Geographic coordinates coding software product

ABSTRACT

A software product for easy-to-use naming, coding, and sharing of locations, including those with no addresses.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 61693636, filed on Aug. 27, 2012.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to coding geographiccoordinates, and in particular, to identifying specific places byeasy-to-remember and easy-to-use codes, rather than other, unwieldymeans of location identification.

BACKGROUND

Once used solely as classified military technology, the use of globalpositioning systems (GPS) is now widely used in the general populous.Devices, such as Garmin® devices, may be used in cars to direct thedriver based on their global position and their desired destination.Alternatively, cars frequently include built-in navigation systems thatoffer similar services. Smartphones also commonly include basic GPScapabilities for locating the user and directing him or her to a desireddestination. Other smartphone applications, such as RunKeeper® forexample, use the smartphone's GPS capabilities to track the user's path,speed, elevation, etc. . . Despite this broad usage of GPS technology,the problem that location identification can be unwieldy and impreciseremains.

There are several common ways to identify a location. Longitude andlatitude coordinates may be extremely precise, but are extremelyunwieldy to relay to a GPS device or another person. One might tell afriend to meet him at specific GPS coordinates, which may preciselyindicate one's location, but the long strings of numbers are neithereasily remembered, nor communicated, nor entered into a device with GPScapabilities. Physical addresses are another common way to identify alocation. Again, remembering, communicating, and/or entering addressescan be difficult at times, especially when the address is long—1327Foothill Boulevard, La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., for example. Moreover,some addresses are ambiguous and are not easily input into a GPS device.For an address such as, 1454 US RTE 22 West, Union, N.J., for example, aGPS device might not recognize the input of “Route 22” or “Rte. 22,” butmay, unbeknownst to the user, instead require “US RTE 22” exactly inorder to recognize the address. Finally, locations may be identifiedinformally, such as “soccer field #3,” “parking lot B,” “the East sideentrance to the Central Park reservoir,” or “the dragon ride at AlphaAmusement Park.” Such informal location identifications that don'tnecessarily have an address are particularly prone to confusion andmiscommunication. All of these types of locations and others may need tobe communicated from time to time, and all have their disadvantages asfar as simple, precise location communication.

Google™ Place Pages provides a service where a business may be providedwith a QR code associated with that the business. One who scans such aQR code is provided with information about the business and an option toclick for maps or directions to that location. Although a useful tool,this service does not appear to accept input of locations other thanaddresses, nor does it provide simple process to simply scan fordirections, and as such, does not address many of the situationsoutlined above.

Therefore there is a need for easy assignation and communication ofprecise coordinates of a specific location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a software product and smartphone applicationfor easy-to-use coding of locations and accurate transmittal of suchcodes to devices that can use them.

The location identification software product of the present inventiontakes a physical location as an input and creates a code specific tothat location. The software product is tangibly stored on anon-transitory storage device and causes a data processing device toperform the various operations described herein. Many of the operationsinvolve receiving or transmitting various data. The main data processingdevice may be receiving or transmitting data from any device capable oftransmitting data to and receiving data from the data processing device.Any internet-capable device, such as a desktop computer, laptopcomputer, tablet computer, or smartphone, for example, may communicatewith the main data processing device of the present invention.Information received by the data processing device may therefore betyped, scanned, spoken, tapped, clicked, or otherwise selected or inputfor transmission to the main data processing device. Some operations areperformed by a central server, which is the main data processing device.Some operations are performed according to software downloaded from thecentral server to the device in communication with the server, such as asmartphone application downloaded to a smartphone. With such latteroperations, any information transmitted from or received by the devicethrough the software downloaded on the device is still transmitted to orreceived by the server even if some of the functions are being performedlocally by the device. For such operations, the device on which thesoftware downloaded from the central server and the central server areboth data processing devices of the present invention.

The location identification software product includes code creationsoftware code, code saving software code, a database, code sharingsoftware code, code selection software code, directions software code,and payment software code. Creation software code creates the code thatis associated with the physical location. Code creation software codeincludes location input software code, automated code provision softwarecode, code customization software code, customized code acceptabilitysoftware code, note addition software code, and public/private optionsoftware code. Location input software code allows for the input of thelocation to be coded. A location may be inputted by several meansincluding typing an address, typing GPS coordinates, using the user'scurrent location, selecting a map location, searching for a locationusing a search engine, typing a zip code + four, or plotting polygonpoints on a map to select an area rather than a point. Location input byselecting a map location or plotting polygon points is accomplishedusing an electronic map. These options include choices for selectinglocations that have no street address, such as a spot on a hiking trail,on a beach or in a park. An electronic map is a computerized depictionof a map where a user may select locations within the map.

Once the location is inputted, automated code provision software code isexecuted. Automated code provision software code provides the user witha code associated with the inputted location. The code is alphanumeric,and may also be displayed optionally as a QR code or bar code. The codeis easily speakable into a device that accepts spoken commands. The usermay then choose to execute code customization software code to choose adifferent alphanumeric code for the inputted location other than the oneautomatically generated by automated code provision software code. Theuser would do this by inputting a preferred alphanumeric grouping. Ifcode customization software code is executed by the input of a requestedcustomized code, customized code acceptability software code is alsoexecuted. Customized code acceptability software code checks foravailability of the requested preferred alphanumeric grouping against alist of non-available alphanumeric codes. For example, if a restaurantowner wants to code his location “OriginalRays,” he can check to see ifthat code is available. Alphanumeric codes may be non-available eitherbecause they are already used as a code for another location or becausethey have been reserved. Codes may be reserved for several reasons. Acode containing a very desirable word or generic term, “pizza” forexample, may be reserved for users willing to pay to have a code withthat word. Codes containing trademarks or domain names may also bereserved. Customized code acceptability software code also checksacceptability of the requested preferred alphanumeric grouping as far asrules for the code. Rules may be as simple as: the alphanumeric codemust include at least one letter or number. More complex rules may bethat the alphanumeric code must be at least eight characters long andinclude at least one letter, one number, and one symbol.

Once a user has been provided with an acceptable code, the user mayinput notes associated with the code or the location it representsthrough note addition software code. Public/private option software codemay also be executed, which allows a user to choose whether the codewill be public or private.

The location identification software product also includes savingsoftware code, the database, and code sharing software code. Savingsoftware code is executed to save inputted location information, anycodes subsequently associated with that location, any notes associatedwith the code and location, and whether the code and any notes arepublic or private. All of this information saved through saving softwarecode is saved in the database. Code sharing software code allows a userto share the code through various means, such as email, social media,texting, website posting, or sound recording. Message customizationsoftware code may also be executed as a part of code sharing softwarecode to customize a message or post included with the code.

The location identification software product also includes codeselection software code, directions software code, and payment softwarecode. Code selection software code allows the recipient of a code sharedthrough code sharing software code to select the shared code and learnthe location associated with the shared code and any other informationattached to the code, such as notes. Once the recipient has selected theshared code and been presented with the information, he may choose toexecute the directions software code, which will provide the recipientwith directions to the coded location from the recipient's location orfrom another location provided by the recipient. If directions are to beprovided from the recipient's location, the recipient's device must beGPS-enabled. GPS-enablement is not necessary if the directions are to beprovided from another location input into the recipient's device.Directions software code may also provide reverse directions from thecoded location to the recipient's location or to another locationprovided by the recipient.

Payment software code allows for users to pay for the execution of codecreation software code. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat there are many different payment structures for such a service asdescribed above. Each of these variations is considered to be within thescope of the present invention. It is preferred, however, that codecreation be free for both consumers and businesses for non-premiumnames. Premium code names or generic terms, such as those includingdesirable words like “pizza,” “coffee,” “gas,” or “lawyer” may bereserved and only assigned to a location upon payment. Such premium codenames may be akin to domain names, such as “wine.com”, “lawyers.com”, or“books.com.” Premium code names may also include trademarks and tradenames. Premium code names are stored in the database and are onlyreleased for assignment upon execution of payment software code.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the locationidentification software product and its features may be executed by anydevice having internet capabilities, including desktop, laptop, andtablet computers, as well as smartphones, which are mobile phones havingcomputer capabilities beyond telephonic capabilities, especiallyincluding internet capabilities. It is preferable that the device alsoinclude GPS capabilities for improved accuracy.

Although not all features described herein are claimed, it is understoodthat the inventor considers each feature described herein to be a partof the invention.

The software product and smartphone application of the present inventionmay be used to great advantage in many scenarios. In a first case, withthe current state of the art, a soccer coach might send the followinglong and convoluted message to the parents of his players:

This week's game is at Veteran's Field #3 in Lake Hopatcong, N.J.Depending on your GPS, you should be able to just enter 126 East FloraRoad, Lake Hopatcong, N.J. 07843, which appears to be the nearest streetaddress, but I'm not sure where the entrance is. Their coach said topark in parking lot B which is the closest lot to our field. I founddirections on the team's website, which say: Take 1-80 to exit 28 orRoute 46 to Route 631 Northbound to traffic light. Turn left ontoLakeside. Follow Lakeside several miles up through two lights. Turn leftonto Brooklyn-Stanhope Road for just under a mile (stone house on thecorner of Flora and Brooklyn-Stanhope). Turn right onto Flora. FollowFlora—Fields are located on the left side of Flora.

In preparation for the day of the game, the parent searches for thefield; reviews the map to try to find field #3 or lot B; gives up andenters 41 characters of a nearby address into a GPS device, “126 EastFlora Road, Lake Hopatcong, N.J.”; arrives at that nearby address; andsearches for the field and parking lot once there.

With the present invention, the coach would send:

This week's game is at Veteran's Field #3 in Hopatcong, N.J. Use CodeNJVetFieldB. The notes attached to this code would include that ParkingLot B is next to the field. The parent would enter the 11 characters ofNJVetFieldB into a GPS device and be directed directly to the field andparking lot. As this example shows, a great deal of time, effort,confusion, and frustration may be saved using the present invention.

In a second case, the user needs to get to a specific part of a largecomplex. Specifically, he needs to get to the Princeton University Pool.In the current state of the art, he goes online and searches for“Princeton University Pool.” He clicks on several search results beforecoming upon an actual address or map of the university. With the presentinvention, a Princeton student or facility manager may have created acode, “TigersPool” and made the code public and therefore searchable.The user searches for the code, easily finds it, and is provided withperfect directions to the pool.

In a final case, a user is shopping online. In the current state of theart, he needs to enter multiple address fields each time he visits a newe-commerce site. He is uncomfortable sharing his personal information,including his home address, with these new unknown sites. With thepresent invention, the user can enter his address once to create a codefor it. He can then use this code with participating e-commerce websitesin the future, thereby saving the repeated typing in of his address, andpreserving his privacy by not disclosing his actual address, but onlythe code associated with it.

Therefore it is an aspect of the present invention to provide short,memorable codes for a location.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to make these codespublic or private.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to obfuscate an actualaddress associated with the encoded location.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to code a location thatdoes not have an address.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to automatically providespeakable codes.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to allow forcustomization of the automatically provided codes.

It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a fullyintegrated process enabling a user to specify an exact location, nameit, and communicate it.

These aspects of the present invention are not meant to be exclusive andother features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art when read inconjunction with the following description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functionality of the softwareproduct of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram detailing the functionality of the locationinput function of the software product of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing communication between the various componentsthat perform the functions of the software product of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the features of location identificationsoftware product 10 are shown. Location identification software product10 includes code creation software code 12, code saving software code49, database 11, code sharing software code 50, code selection softwarecode 58, directions software code 60, and payment software code 62.

Code creation software code 12 allows for the creation of a codeassociated with a physical location. Code creation software code 12includes location input software code 14, automated code provisionsoftware code 32, code customization software code 34, customized codeacceptability software code 38, note addition software code 46, andpublic/private option software code 48. Location input software code 14is detailed in FIG. 2 and allows for the input of the location to becoded. A location may be inputted by several means including typing anaddress 16, typing GPS coordinates 18, using current location 20,selecting a map location 22, searching for a location 24, typing a zipcode + four 26, or plotting polygon points 28. For each exampleincluding the act of “typing” something for input, it is recognized thatsome devices, especially tablet computers and smartphones, may includevoice recognition capabilities so that the input may not be throughtyping but through speaking to the device. For inputting options such astyping an address 16, typing GPS coordinates 18, selecting a maplocation 22, or plotting polygon points 28, a map applicationprogramming interface (API) 34, such as Google Maps® may be incorporatedinto code creation software code 12 so as to properly identify thelocation. For inputting options such as using current location 20, inwhich a user selects to code his current location, a location sensor API36 and or map API 34 may be incorporated into code creation softwarecode 12 so as to properly identify the location. For inputting optionssuch as searching for a location 24, in which a user searches for aspecific location, business, or address, and selects a search result forcoding, a search engine API 40, such as the Google® search engine orGoogle Places® API, may be incorporated into code creation software code12 so as to properly identify the location. For inputting options suchas typing a zip code + four 26, a zip code API 42, such as the USPS zipcode look-up, may be incorporated into code creation software code 12 soas to properly identify the location. Plotting polygon points 28involves choosing to identify a shape on a map and selecting three ormore points on that map and connecting them to plot the polygon.Plotting polygon points 28 is most useful for identifying a larger areathan a specific point. Plotting polygon points 28 may be used to codethe location of Disneyland or SOHO, for example. One of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that these are but a few examples of means forinputting a location and that there are many equivalent means for doingso, each of which is considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention.

Once the location is inputted, automated code provision software code 32is executed. Automated code provision software code 32 provides the userwith a code associated with the inputted location. The code isalphanumeric, but may also be displayed as a QR code or bar code. Thecode is easily speakable into a device that accepts spoken commands. Theuser may then choose to execute code customization software code 34 tochoose a different alphanumeric code for the inputted location otherthan the one automatically generated by automated code provisionsoftware code 32. If code customization software code 34 is executed bythe input of a requested customized code, customized code acceptabilitysoftware code 38 is also executed. Customized code acceptabilitysoftware code 38 checks for availability of the requested customizedcode, acceptability of the requested customized code as far as rules forthe code, e.g. that it must contain at least one letter, one number, andone symbol, and whether the requested customized code is a code that hasbeen reserved. Codes may be reserved for several reasons. A codecontaining a very desirable word, “pizza” for example, may be reservedfor users willing to pay to have a code with that word. Codes containingtrademarks may also be reserved.

Once a user has been provided with an acceptable code through automatedcode provision software code 32 or has chosen a code through codecustomization software code 34 that has been deemed acceptable throughcustomized code acceptability software code 38, the user may input notesassociated with the code or the location it represents through noteaddition software code 46. Notes that may be associated with the codeand/or location may be personal, such as “Meeting in back room,” “Meetme here at 9 pm on Saturday,” or “Come around to the back of the house.”Alternatively, if the user is a business, the notes may includeinformation it wishes to display about the business, such as menu itemsif the business is a restaurant, or brands sold if the business is aretail store. In addition, notes may include special deals or aspects ofa business, such as “Sunday brunch available.” For codes made public,these notes will be searchable with an internet search engine, so thenotes may bring in business. If Summit Diner in Summit, N.J. has a codewith a note attached including “Sunday brunch available,” for example,and someone performs an internet search for “Summit N.J. Sunday brunch,”then Summit Diner's code and attached notes will be among the searchresults. Public/private option software code 48 may also be executed,which allows a user to choose whether the code will be public orprivate. Using the examples above, if the user is sending a code withthe “Meet me here at 9 pm on Saturday” note to his date, he will likelymake the code private so that only his date will have access to thecode. A business such as Summit Diner, on the other hand, will likelywant their code and attached notes to be public so that anyone can findthe restaurant and search for it on the internet as in the example givenabove.

In addition to code creation software code 12, location identificationsoftware product 10 includes saving software code 49 and database 11.Saving software code 49 is executed to save inputted locationinformation through location input software code 14, any codessubsequently associated with that location through automated codeprovision software code 32 or code customization software code 34, anynotes associated with the code and location through note additionsoftware code 46, and whether the code and any notes are public orprivate as determined by the execution of public/private option softwarecode 48. All of this information saved through saving software code 49is saved in database 11.

Location identification software product 10 also includes code sharingsoftware code 50. Code sharing software code 50 allows a user to sharethe code through various means such as email 52 or social media products54, such as Twitter® or FaceBook®. If the user executes code sharingsoftware code 50 through email 52 or social media products 54, the usermay be prompted to log into the email 52 or social media 54 account ifhe is not already logged in. Message customization software code 56 mayalso be executed as a part of code sharing software code 50 to customizea message or post included with the code. The “Meet me here at 9 pm onSaturday” message, for example, may not be attached in the notes addedto the code through note addition software code 46, but may instead byadded as part of a Twitter® post through message customization softwarecode 56.

Location identification software product 10 also includes code selectionsoftware code 58. Code selection software code 58 allows the recipientof a code shared through code sharing software code 50 to select theshared code and learn the location associated with the shared code andany other information attached to the code, such as notes associatedwith the code through note addition software code 46. Once the recipienthas selected the shared code and been presented with the information, hemay choose to execute directions software code 60. Directions softwarecode 60 may use map 34 and/or location sensor 36 APIs to provide therecipient with directions to the coded location from the recipient'slocation or from another location provided by the recipient.

Location identification software product 10 also includes paymentsoftware code 62. Payment software code 62 allows for users to pay forthe execution of code creation software code 12. One of ordinary skillin the art will recognize that there are many different paymentstructures for such a service as described above. Each of thesevariations is considered to be within the scope of the presentinvention. It is preferred, however, that code creation be free for bothconsumers and businesses for non-premium names. Premium code names, suchas those including common and desirable words like “pizza,” “coffee,”“gas,” or “lawyer” may be reserved and only assigned to a location uponpayment. Premium code names may also include trademarks and trade names.Premium code names are included in database 11 and may be—released forassignment only upon execution of payment software code 62.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that locationidentification software product 10 and its features may be executed byany device including internet—capabilities, including desktop, laptop,and tablet computers, as well as smartphones, which are mobile phoneshaving computer capabilities beyond telephonic capabilities, especiallyincluding internet capabilities. It is preferable that the device alsoinclude GPS capabilities for improved accuracy.

Now referring to FIG. 3, a diagram showing communication between variouscomponents that perform the functions of the software product of thepresent invention is provided. Server 100 is the main data processingdevice that performs the software functions described herein. Server 100includes GPS receiver 102 that provides server 100 with the capabilityto receive information from GPS Satellite 104. GPS Satellite 104 detectsthe location of device 106 and relays it to server 100. Device 106 is incommunication with base transceiver station (BTS) 108. Server 100 isalso in communication with BTS 108 through network 110. The user ofdevice 106 can request that server 100 create a code based on thelocation of device 106. In addition, if the user of device enters a codeand transmits it to server 100, server 100 may provide the user withdirections to or from the encoded location based on the user's positionas relayed through GPS satellite 104.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detailwith reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versionswould be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the description should not be limitedto the description of the preferred versions contained herein.

We claim:
 1. A software product tangibly stored on a non-transitorystorage device, the product configured to cause at least one dataprocessing device to perform operations comprising: receiving a locationinput; receiving a preferred alphanumeric grouping; checkingavailability of the preferred alphanumeric grouping against a list ofnon-available alphanumeric codes; checking attributes of the preferredalphanumeric grouping against a set of rules for preferred alphanumericcodes; creating an alphanumeric code that is the preferred alphanumericgrouping and associated with the inputted location.
 2. The softwareproduct as claimed in claim 1, wherein said operation of receiving alocation input comprises receiving an address.
 3. The software productas claimed in claim 1, wherein said operation of receiving a locationinput comprises receiving GPS coordinates.
 4. The software product asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said operation of receiving a location inputcomprises receiving a current location of a GPS-enabled device able totransmit the current location to said at least one data processingdevice.
 5. The software product as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidoperation of receiving a location input comprises receiving anindication of a location on an electronic map.
 6. The software productas claimed in claim 1, wherein said operations further comprise:receiving a selection that the alphanumeric code be one of a groupconsisting of public and private; and making the alphanumeric code theone of a group consisting of public and private based on the selectionreceived.
 7. The software product as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidoperations further comprise: providing an option to share thealphanumeric code; receiving an input requesting that the alphanumericcode be shared, wherein sharing the alphanumeric code comprises one of agroup consisting of emailing the code, texting the code, posting thecode via social media, posting the code on a website, and providing avoicemail recording of the code; and sharing the alphanumeric code asrequested.
 8. The software product as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidoperations further comprise: receiving an alphanumeric code input,wherein the alphanumeric code was created by the software product and isassociated with a location; and providing the location associated withthe alphanumeric code.
 9. The software product as claimed in claim 8,wherein said operations further comprise: receiving a second location;and providing directions from the second location to the locationencoded in the alphanumeric code.
 10. The software product as claimed inclaim 9, wherein: said operation of receiving an alphanumeric code inputcomprises receiving an alphanumeric code input into a device that isGPS-enabled and able to transmit information to and receive informationfrom said at least one data processing device; the second location is alocation of the GPS-enabled device and said operation of receiving asecond location comprises detecting a location of the GPS-enableddevice; and said operation of providing directions to the locationassociated with the alphanumeric code comprises transmitting to thedevice directions from the location of the GPS-enabled device to thelocation associated with the alphanumeric code.
 11. The software productas claimed in claim 8, wherein: said operations further comprisereceiving notes input, wherein notes are additional information aboutthe inputted location; said operation of creating an alphanumeric codeassociated with the inputted location comprises creating an alphanumericcode associated with the inputted location and notes; and said operationof providing a location associated with the alphanumeric code comprisesproviding a location and notes associated with the alphanumeric code.12. The software product as claimed in claim 11, wherein the inputlocation is a business and said operation of receiving notes inputcomprises receiving offers associated with the location.
 13. Thesoftware product as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preferredalphanumeric grouping comprises one of a group consisting of atrademark, a domain name, and a generic term, and wherein saidoperations further comprise: indicating payment is due for the creationof the alphanumeric code; and receiving payment.
 14. The softwareproduct as claimed in claim 11, wherein said non-transitory storagedevice comprises a database, and said operations further comprise:receiving a selection that the alphanumeric code be one of a groupconsisting of public and private; making the alphanumeric code the oneof a group consisting of public and private based on the selectionreceived; and saving information into said database, wherein saidinformation comprises: inputted locations; notes; selections that analphanumeric code be one of a group consisting of public and private;and the alphanumeric code associated with the inputted locations, notes,messages, and selections that an alphanumeric code be one of a groupconsisting of public and private.
 15. A software product tangibly storedon a non-transitory storage device comprising a database, said productconfigured to cause at least one data processing device to performoperations comprising: receiving a location input; receiving notesinput, wherein notes are addition information about the inputtedlocation; creating a QR code associated with the inputted location andnotes; receiving a selection that the QR code be one of a groupconsisting of public and private, wherein private entails stricteraccess standards; making the QR code the one of a group consisting ofpublic and private based on the selection received; saving informationinto said database, wherein said information comprises: inputtedlocations; notes; selections that a QR code be one of a group consistingof public and private; and the QR code associated with the inputtedlocations, notes, and selections that a QR code be one of a groupconsisting of public and private; receiving a scan of a QR code from adevice that is GPS-enabled, able to scan QR codes, and able to transmitinformation to and receive information from said data processing device,wherein the QR code was created by said software product; providing thelocation and notes associated with the QR code; providing an option toprovide directions to the location associated with the QR code;receiving a request to provide directions to the location associatedwith the QR code; and providing directions to the location.
 16. Thesoftware product as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step of receivinga location input comprises the step of receiving GPS coordinates. 17.The software product as claimed in claim 15, wherein said step ofreceiving a location input comprises the step of receiving a currentlocation of a GPS-enabled device able to transmit the current locationto said data processing device.
 18. The software product as claimed inclaim 15, wherein said step of receiving a location input comprises thestep of receiving an indication of a location on an electronic map. 19.The software product as claimed in claim 15, wherein said operationsfurther comprise: providing an option to share the QR code; receiving aninput requesting that the alphanumeric code be shared, wherein sharingthe QR code comprises one of a group consisting of emailing the code,texting the code, posting the code via social media, and posting thecode on a website; and sharing the QR code as requested.
 20. Thesoftware product as claimed in claim 15, wherein said operation ofproviding directions to the location associated with the QR codecomprises: receiving a current location of the GPS-enabled device fromthe GPS-enabled device; and transmitting to the device directions fromthe current location of the GPS-enabled device to the locationassociated with the QR code.